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The survey also found one in six of those earning above £50,000 a year think it likely they will be made redundant over the next 12 months.

Quarterly changes in unemployment and the claimant count (aged 18 to 64)

Stephen Harmston, head of SixthSense at YouGov, said: ‘The fear of redundancy depresses consumers’ desire to spend on non-essential items which in turn makes it more likely that people will lose their jobs.

‘It is especially concerning that a large number of high earners are worried about being let go as when this group battens down the hatches it has a significant impact on the economy.’

However another survey released today revealed heavy discounting last month may have lured cautious shoppers to the high street last month, with sales up 1.9 per cent year-on-year.

Positive retail figures released today increased optimism about the state of the economy in general

Sales saw their biggest improvement since December 2011, according to the British Retail Consortium, boosting hopes that Britain will avoid an unprecedented triple-dip recession.

BRC director general Helen Dickinson said that while sales suffered in the cold-snap in January, it was short-lived. Shoppers splashed out on Wellington boots as well as televisions, tablet computers and smartphones, and online sales were 10.1 per cent higher than January last year.

David McCorquodale, head of retail at KPMG, said: ‘While technology advances may have hastened the demise of HMV, Blockbuster and Jessops, many retailers will look back at the past two months with pride.’

But he warned that heavy discounting to attract shoppers may have hit profits.